Grease trap



March 24, 15 42. D. RIDGE E'IAL 2,277,254

' GREASE TRAP I Filed Nov. 18, 1938 I INVENTORS DAN RIDGE LL OYYD L;SEESTEDT ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1942 GREASE TRAP Dan Ridge andLloyd L. Seestedt, Romulus,

Mich., assignors to Henry W. Seestedt, Romulus, Mich., doing business asRomulus Gray Iron Foundry Application November 18, 1938, Serial No.241,125

a man's.

This invention relates to grease traps adapted to be connected in wasteplumbing lines, such as a line serving a sink or washing machine, toseparate and collect entrained grease from the waste stream and therebyprevent clogging the line.

from grease accumulations, the trap providing for occasional removal ofits collected grease and also being connected to provide a gas seal inthe waste line. I

The general objects of this invention are to provide such a grease trapor separator of improved structure and manner of functioning as willappear.

More particularly an object of the invention is to facilitate removal ofthe grease therefrom either in liquid or solid form.

The exact nature of this invention together with further objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a topView of a trap or separator embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the same as in the plane of line 2--2, Fig. 1,and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same as in the planes of line3-3, Fig. 2, arrows in Figs. 2 and 3 indicating the path of flow; Fig. 4is an inlet end elevation as viewed from the left, Figs. 1, 2 and 3;Fig. 5 is a side elevation as viewed from the far side, Figs. 1, 2 and3; and Fig, 6 is a view in elevation indicating the manner in which thetrap is connected in a typical installation.

With reference now to the drawing, the trap is preferably of cast ironor the like and has a main hollow container body generally cylindricaland here shown as octagonal, with side walls I, bottom wall 2 and agenerally open top.

The container is provided adjacent its bottom with opposed lateral inletand outlet openings 4 and 1 respectively, threaded as indicated in Fig.2 for pipe connections as indicated Fig. 6. An upright inlet bafiie wall5 is arranged as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 to direct flow laterallyfrom the inlet 4 through a passageway K to the main cavity L of thecontainer and to bound and partially embrace this cavity. That portionof the bottom wall 2 of the container, lying beneath the passageway K isslopingly disposed as at 2a and horizontally elevated as at 2b so thatflow through the passageway K will be upwardly as well as laterally tothe cavity L.

The baffle 5 extends above the wall part 2b and downwardly therebelow tothe lowermost part of the bottom wall 2 as indicated in Fig. 2, and awall part la disposed generally radially of the container, interconnectsbetween the main bottom wall 2, the bottom wall part 217,, the baffle 5and the corresponding face of the side wall I so that an external cavityM is had, of which 5, the bottom wall part 2b comprises the top, thiscavity being open laterally of the container.

The bottom wall part'2b is provided with an opening controlled by adrain cook 5 located within the cavity M and obviously accessible fromthe outside of the trap.

An outlet baflie B is disposed generally horizontally just above theoutlet opening 1 and extends therefrom and across the container,terminating generally diametrically thereof as in-- dicated Figs. 2 and3 and preferably joining the baffle 5 and the container wall part la; sothat a glow outlet passageway N is provided leading from the main cavityL.

A cover 3 is provided for the top removably secured thereon as by wingnuts 3a, and having a handle 3b.

The container is provided with an opposed pair of ears lb overhangingthe hollow of the container and provided with openings lc threaded orotherwise arranged for cooling air connection. The cover 3 seats uponthese ears as well as upon the upper extremities of the container sidewalls, but is peripherally notched as at 30 to clear the openings Ia andtheir connections.

In practice the trap is connected as indicated in Fig. 6 with a line aleading to its inlet 4, from the sink, washing machine or the like Awhich is to be served. A waste line b which may be vented as at e leadsfrom the outlet 1 of the trap upwardly, thence downwardly to determineby its arch, a liquid level within the trap preferably slightly belowthe top of the bafile 5.

The top openings Ic are provided with vented cover it and riser c, forcirculation of cooling air through the trap as by thermosiphonic action.

In operation the incoming stream will flow up.- wardly and laterallyfrom the inlet 4 with slight whirling effect upon the main cavity of thetrap. Oils and greases entrained in the water stream from the unit Awill accumulate within the trap in the space L, which being of largevolume compared to the passageways K and N, provides substantialquiescence of the stream. Water will settle toward the bottom of thisspace and will flow out through the passageway N substantially withoutturbulent effect upon the space L because of the large diametric mouthof the passageway N.

Grease will accumulate at the liquid surface and generally within thecurvature of the baflie 5.

If the trap contents be sufiiciently warm that its grease componentsremain liquid, these components may be drawn off through the cock valve6 down to the level of the bottom wall part 2b which is preferably aboutmidway between the main bottom of the trap and the liquid leveldetermined by the waste connection b. Thus the grease is convenientlyremoved while liquid, just before an overnight shutdown or the like. Thewall part 2b preferably has substantial area as indicated, so as toprovide a sharp dividing plane between grease and water, that all of thegrease may be drained with little if any drainage of water. Danger ofbreaking the liquid seal of the trap at its inlet and outlet connectionsis eliminated.

Should the collected grease have become hardened as by cooling, it maybe removed through the top of the trap by removal of the cover 3 withoutdisturbing any of the trap connections.

What we claim is:

1. A grease trap of the class described comprising a container providinga chamber having inlet and outlet openings for liquid flow, the walls ofsaid container providing a space of sufficient capacity to providerelative quiescence of liquid flowing through it, said inlet openingbeing in the lower portion of said container, said container having aportion of its bottom wall elevated with horizontal disposition andprovided with means independent of said outlet opening for draining saidspace, only to the level of said elevated portion of said bottom wall,to a point outside said chamber, and means for maintaining a liquidlevel in said container above said elevated portion of said bottom wall.

2. A grease trap of the class described comprising a container providinga chamber having a low lateral inlet and an outlet, upright baflle meansarranged within said chamber to provide a passageway above the bottomwall of said container and leading laterally from said inlet and tobound a substantial space wherein relative quiescence will be had, saidcontainer having the part of its bottom wall beneath said passagewayarranged with sloping and elevated portions to cause flow to be upwardlyfrom said inlet to said space, and drain means carried by said elevatedbottom portion and opening into that portion of the container chamberabove said elevated bottom portion.

3. A grease trap of the class described comprising a container providinga chamber having a low lateral inlet and an outlet, upright bafile meansarranged within said chamber to provide a passageway above the bottomwall of said container and leading laterally from said inlet and tobound a substantial space wherein relative quiescence will be had, saidcontainer having the part of its bottom wall beneath said passagewayarranged with sloping and elevated portions to cause flow to be upwardlyfrom said inlet to said space, and drain means carried by said elevatedbottom portion and located therebeneath and communicating with saidchamber just above said elevated bottom portion.

DAN RIDGE. LLOYD L. SEESTEDT.

